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Federal grant to help Sunbury address flood-prone area

(Sunbury) -- A federal grant is expected to help solve a major storm water problem in one Northumberland County city. The aging infrastructure around Sunbury's Spring Run Pump Station isn't able to keep up with heavy rains.

Sunbury Municipal Authority General Manager Dan Ramer says the entire area essentially becomes a lake following heavy rains. He notes it makes the entire area inaccessible for Sunbury Textile Mills and the nearby PPL substation.

Sunbury Textile Mills employs about 200 people and the substation serves the entire city, so Ramer is eager to install new lines that will divert the storm water into nearby Shamokin Creek -- and ultimately the Susquehanna River.

The city has just secured an 800-thousand dollar federal grant to fund most of the one-point-three million dollar project. The municipal authority will have to pick up the rest of the tab. Ramer says the design work is complete and the project will soon be put out to bid. He hopes to break ground this fall.